Meat-conveyer.



W. A. GUENTHER.

MEAT GONVEYER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. e, 1909.

' Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. GUENTHER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IvIEAT-GONVEYER.

Application filed September 8, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAIM A. GUEN- THER, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Meat-Conveyors, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invent-ion relates to meat conveyers, and the invention has for itsobject to provide a safety appliance for preventing meat from beingsoiled or ruined by being accidentally dropped from a switch gap in theconveyor.

My invention aims to provide a safety appliance that can beadvantageously used in the storage refrigerators of large commissionhouses or agency plants, where a large amount of meat is moved onoverhead conveyers. Since these overhead conveyers are arranged toprovide storage tracks and main switching tracks, it is necessary to usenumerous switches to facilitate the shifting of meat, and in connectionwith these switches considerable trouble is experienced by workmenneglecting to observe the position of a switch before shifting a pieceofmeat onto the switch. If the switch is open, the meat and carrier areimmediately precipitated upon the floor and very often the carrier isbroken and the meat soiled. It is such defects in connection with theoverhead conveyers that my invention aims to obviate by providing branchor storage rails, or even a main rail with a safety appliance,comprising a block adapted to be simultaneously operated with theswitch, the block being thrown into the path of the carrier on a storagerail to chuck the carrier and prevent the same from running into the gapof the switch.

The invention will be hereinafter considered in detail and then claimed,and reference will now be had to the drawing forming a part of thisspecification, wherein I have illustrated what I believe to be apractical embodiment of my invention; but I desire it to beunderstood'thatthe structural elements thereof are susceptible tochanges in the size, proportion and manner of assemblage withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of the meat conveyerequipped with a safety appliance constructed in accordance Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

Serial No. 516,771.

with my invention, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, Fig. 3 is aperspective view of a portion of the main track, Fig. & is a similarview of a detached switch tongue, and Fig. 5 is an end view of thesafety appliance.

In the drawing, the reference numerals 1 and 2 denote the confrontingends of a main track which is supported by hangers 3 suspended from aceiling or overhead structure 1.

5 denotes what I term a storage track having a curved end 6 in proximityto the end of the track 2, the track 5 being ar ranged at right anglesto the track 2 and supported by hangers 7 similar to the supports of thetracks 1 and 8 denotes a track member arranged between the confrontingends of the tracks 1 and 2, said member being of less depth than thetracks to provide a gap 9. The member 8 extends under the ends of thetracks 1 and 2, as at 10 and the extending ends are provided withvertical flanges 11 which are riveted or otherwise secured to the tracks1 and 2, as at 12. The outer side of the member 8 is provided withparallel iateral extensions 13 and 1% and the outer ends of theseextensions are provided with bearings 15 for a longitudinal pin 16.Pivotally mounted upon the pin 16 is a sleeve 17 having a centraldepending crank 18, a central upwardly extending crank 19 and twoupwardly extending curved arms 20, these arms being located adjacent tothe ends of the sleeve 17. The upper ends of the arms are connected by acurved switch tongue 21 which is adapted to fit between the rails 1 and5 and bridge the gap between the end of the rail 1 and the curved end 6of the rail The extension 14: of the member 8 is provided with a sidebearing 22 for a horizontal shiftable switch tongue, comprising a plate23 pivotally connected to the side bearing 22 by a pin 24. The plate 23is provided with a longitudinal vertical flange 25 adapted to bridge thegap 9 between the rails 1 and 2. The plate 23 is also provided with anopening 26 adapted to receive the crank 19, and with a projecting lug 27adapted to extend under a guide flange 28 carried by the extension 13.The lug 27 prevents the plate 23 from rising when actuated by a movementof the crank 19, as will hereinafter appear.

The ceiling or overhead structure at is provided with hangers 29 for ashaft 30, said rier 41.

shaft having the ends thereof provided with cranks 31 and 32, the latterbeing of a greater length than the former whereby it can be pivotallyconnected by a link 33 to the crank 18. The link 33 is provided with adepending cable or rod 34 adapted to be used when operating the switchand my safety appliance.

The rail 5 adjacent to the curved end 6 is provided with an off-setbearing 35 for a vertical shaft 36. The upper end of the shaft isprovided with a crank 37 adapted to be connected by a rod 38 to thecrank 31. The shaft 36 is also provided with a hanger 39 for a chuckblock 40 adapted to engage the rail 5 and prevent the movement of acarrier 41 upon said rail toward the curved end 6 thereof.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the plate 23 is in position for theflange 25 thereof to close the gap 9 and provide a straightway track.WVith the plate 23 in this position the chuck block 40 is in the path ofthe carrier 41 and prevents the movement of the carrier toward the gapbetween the rail 1 and the curved end 6 of the rail 5. When it isdesired to transfer the carrier 41 from the rail 5 to the rail 1, theoperator pulls upon the cable or rod 34 in the direction of the arrow ofFig. 2. Simultaneously with a movement of the sleeve 17 through themedium of the crank 18, the shaft 30 is rocked and through the medium ofthe connecting rod 38 partially rotates the vertical shaft 36, swingingthe chuck block 40 away from the rail 5 and providing clearance for thecarhen the sleeve 17 is moved the curved crank 19 is swung into theopening 26 of the plate 23, causing said plate to shift 40 toward thesleeve and provide the gap 9. Simultaneously with this movement of theplate 23, the arms lower the switch tongue 21 into the gap 9, and asthis switch tongue is curved, it fills the gap between the rail 1 andthe curved end 6 of the rail 5, thus providing a passage for the carrier41 to the rail 1.

By pulling the cable or rod 34 in the opposite direction, the plate 23can be replaced whereby the carrier can be shifted from the rail 1 tothe rail 2. In the meantime, the

chuck block is replaced to prevent another carrier from approaching theswitch until it has been properly positioned for the transfer of thecarrier.

My invention particularly resides in elements 35 to 40 inclusive, and Ireserve the right to use these elements in connection with switches ofvarious types.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new, is

1. In an overhead conveyer, the combination with a main track, a sidetrack, and a switch controlling the passage of a carrier from the sidetrack to the main track, of a bearing carried by the side track andofiset therefrom, a shaft mounted for partial rotation in the bearing,said shaft extending above the side track and provided on its upper endwith a crank, connections between said crank and the switch for rockingthe shaft as the switch is moved, and a chuck block carried by the shaftand movable therewith into position on the side track, or to one sidethereof according to the direction of rotation of the shaft. 7

2. In an overhead conveyer, the combination with a main track, a sidetrack, and a switch controlling the passage of a carrier from the sidetrack to the main track, of a bearing carried by the side track andoffset therefrom, a shaft mounted for partial rotation in the bearing,said shaft extending above the side track and provided on its upper endwith a crank, connecting rods between the crank and the switch forimparting partial rotary movement to the shaft as the switch isactuated, a laterally-extending hanger carried by said shaft, and achuck block suspended from said hanger, said chuck block and hangermovable with the shaft whereby the chuck block is moved into positiononto the side track or to one side thereof according to the direction ofthe movement imparted to the shaft. 7

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM A. GUENTHER.

Vitnesses:

A. H. RABsAG, MAX H. SRQLOVITZ.

